The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-06
The BEATITCDEs.

JESUS is represented as a rabbi, Jewish
teacher, giving instruction to his pupils Ids
ciples]. Both in the schools and in the
synagogues it was the custom for the teacher
to sit while giving instruction, the pupils and
people, who gave respectful attention, stand
ing. The reported discourse begins with
series of blessings called the Beatitudes, from
beautus, "blessed" or ''happy," the word
employed in the Latin versions. Happy
more nearly expresses the Greek word than
blessed. The Jews expected great felicity
under the reign of the Messiah, when they
would be prosperous and happy, rejoicing in
triumph over their enemies, and enjoying
their liberty in the possession and supremacy
OF the land, the inheritance of their fathers
which Cop had given them to be an everlast-
ing possession. JESUS announces the char
acter and conditions of this expected happi-
ness of his people in terms and under Cir
cumstances vastly different from their expec-
tations:
"Happy the poor in spirit: because theirs
is the reign of the heavens.
"Happy the meek: because they shall
inherit the earth.
8 "Happy the mourners norc: because they
shall be comforted.
6 Happy they who hunger and thirst for
righteousness: because they shall be filled.
Happy the merciful: because they shall
receive mercy.
"Happy the pure in heart: because they
shall see GOD.
"Happy the peacemakers: because they
shall be called SONS of GoD.
10 "Happy they that have been prosecuted
on account of righteousness: because theirs
is the reign 1 of the heavens
IL Happy are you when they reproach
you, and prosecute you, and utter every evil
word against you, falsely, on my account.
u "Rejoice and exult: for great is your
reward in the heavens, for thus they perse-
cuted the prophets, those who preceded you. !"
j. w. Hanson, DID,, "The New Covenant"
1. The Jews looked upon outward prosper
ity, manifested in wealth and high position
and pride of birth and station, as the evidence
of Divine favor. JESUS declared that the
kingdom of heaven belonged to the humble.
The spiritually needy were prepared for the
reign of Cop. He announced the riches of
poverty. True happiness is dependent upon
neither poverty nor riches, but upon the prop
er temper and poise, the quality, of the
Spirit. Those who felt their need of spiritual
blessings would properly seek and enjoy the
AluBuOu VI DcdfSAs
2. Some ancient authorities place the third
beatitude of our versions second. DR.. Han
son, in "The New Covenant" following lis
ohendorf and others, adopts this order.
Among the blessings which the Jews expected
to enjoy in the reign of the Messiah was the
independent possession of the land of their
inheritance. This they expected to gain by
the triumphs of war and the violent overthrow
of their despised rulers. JESUS declares that
not the ambitious and contentious, but the
"meek" shall possess the land and truly enjoy
their inheritance. Weakness is that quality
of mind and heart which is manifested in
patience and trustful endurance of adversely
and even injury. 1t is the chief characteristic
of those who first seek the kingdom Of Con
and HIS righteousness, and trust all things
else to the Providential care. These are free
and independent, and therefore happy citi-
zens of the Messianic kingdom, which ia
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit. The gentle, patient and devoutly
trustful are more likely to permanently pos
sess their rights, and literally to 'inherit the
EARTH" than are the resentful, contentious
and ambitious. "a soft answer turneth away
wrath" "He that is slow to anger is better
than the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit
than he that taketh city" proverbs XIV. L
xvi. 32). 1t is better to suffer wrong than to
do wrong. In the kingdom of heaven the